George Washington University Athletics
GW Women's Basketball Unveils 2014-15 Schedule
9/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Sept. 11, 2014
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WASHINGTON - The George Washington women's basketball team unveiled its complete 2014-15 schedule on Thursday, highlighted by at least 13 games against teams which advanced to postseason play a year ago. In addition, the Colonials will play at least three games on national television.
"We have a very demanding schedule this year with six non-conference opponents who played in the postseason last year, including four in the NCAA Tournament," said third-year Head Coach Jonathan Tsipis. "We always want our non-conference schedule to prepare us for the challenges of Atlantic 10 play, where every game is a battle."
Additional game times and television coverage will be announced in the coming weeks. GW may also add a non-conference game to its schedule.
Fans can catch their first glimpse of the 2014-15 Colonials during an exhibition tune-up against Virginia Union at the Charles E. Smith Center on Sunday, Nov. 9.
GW will tip off the 2014-15 campaign on the road for the first time in three years on Friday, Nov. 14 when it visits reigning Atlantic Sun champion Florida Gulf Coast, a team which has been to the postseason seven years in a row. The Colonials' only previous meeting with the Eagles was in the first round of the 2009 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
GW plays its second straight postseason team to start the season as it renews its rivalry with District foe American, which advanced to the WNIT in 2014. The Colonials and Eagles meet for the fifth straight season; GW defeated AU, 77-64, last December at the Smith Center.
The Colonials' home opener on the Tex Silverman Court at the Charles E. Smith Center will be Wednesday, Nov. 19 against nearby Bowie State before hosting 2014 Final Four participant Maryland on Saturday, Nov. 22. The Terps, who finished the season ranked fourth in the nation, represent the second Final Four team to visit the Smith Center in the last two seasons after California played in Foggy Bottom last November - a 75-72 Colonials' upset of the 10th-ranked Golden Bears. GW and Maryland will meet for the second year in a row.
"The ability to have top-10 teams play in the Smith Center on a yearly basis is a great opportunity for our program," said Coach Tsipis. "We look forward to packing the arena for this game - and every game - like we did for the White Out against Cal last year."
The Colonials will spend their Thanksgiving holiday in the Bahamas as part of the 2014 Junkanoo Jam, a three-day event which takes place in Freeport on Grand Bahama Island, home of junior Jonquel Jones. Playing in the Freeport Division, GW will open the tournament on Friday, Nov. 28 against NCAA Tournament qualifier N.C. State, which finished the 2013-14 campaign ranked in the top 20.
Purdue, which advanced to the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament and also finished the year ranked in the top 20, and Texas Tech will play in the other half of the bracket, with the winners facing off in the championship game on Nov. 29 at 3:15 p.m., preceded by the consolation contest at 1 p.m.
"The Junkanoo Jam always features top-notch competition and this year is no different with four teams that played in the NCAA Tournament, including two in our bracket, and we look forward to this early challenge in our schedule," said Coach Tsipis. "By playing in games on back-to-back days similar to the format of the A-10 Championship, the Junkanoo Jam will help us prepare for March. We are also excited to be able to bring Jonquel Jones home and give her friends and family in Freeport a chance to see her play."
GW returns to the Smith Center on Saturday, Dec. 6, to host two-time defending Mountain West champion Fresno State in its first of four straight home games. The Colonials and Bulldogs will meet for the first time since 1987 and just the second time ever.
Next up for the Colonials is their fourth straight and 34th all-time meeting with rival Georgetown on Tuesday, Dec. 9, before Memphis and Saint Mary's (Calif.) come to Foggy Bottom on Monday, Dec. 15 and Sunday, Dec. 21, respectively. The Colonials and Tigers will meet for the first time ever, while GW visited the Gaels, who reached the second round of the WNIT last season, in 2012.
GW wraps up its non-conference slate with trips to a pair of Baltimore schools, visiting Loyola (Md.) on Sunday, Dec. 28 and Towson on Wednesday, Dec. 31. Both games represent rematches of 2013-14 contests.
The Atlantic 10 Conference schedule will feature 16 games again this season, including home-and-home series against A-10 regular-season champion Dayton, Revolutionary Rival George Mason and Richmond.
The Colonials will be tested right from the start as they open A-10 play on Sunday, Jan. 4 at Dayton, which has been to the NCAA Tournament the last five seasons. The 3:30 p.m. game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
GW hosts Saint Joseph's, which advanced to the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, in its A-10 home opener on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The Colonials and Hawks met three times last season with GW taking 2-of-3, including an 82-79 overtime victory in the quarterfinals of the A-10 Championship.
The Colonials then host Richmond on Saturday, Jan. 10 before back-to-back road games in New England at Rhode Island (Jan. 15) and Massachusetts (Jan. 18). The game against the Minutewomen, which will tip off at 2 p.m., will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.
GW briefly returns home to host 2014 WNIT participant Duquesne on Wednesday, Jan. 21 before heading to Philadelphia to take on La Salle on Saturday, Jan. 24. After a week off, the Colonials close out January by making the short trip to George Mason on Saturday, Jan. 31.
February begins at home against A-10 newcomer Davidson on Thursday, Feb. 5, which will be the first-ever meeting between the Colonials and Wildcats. Dayton then visits the Smith Center on Sunday, Feb. 8 for the Colonials' third nationally televised game of conference play, which will tip off at 12 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. GW knocked off then-No. 21 Dayton, 88-79, last season on Senior Day at the Smith Center.
The Colonials next visit Saint Louis for the first time since 2011 on Wednesday, Feb. 11 before taking on three straight 2014 postseason teams in St. Bonaventure, VCU and Fordham. GW hosts the Bonnies, which advanced to the second round of the WNIT, on Sunday, Feb. 15, and visits another WNIT participant in VCU on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Defending A-10 champion Fordham comes to the Smith Center on Saturday, Feb. 21.
The Colonials' final road trip of the regular season is a short one as they make their return trip to Richmond on Wednesday, Feb. 26. GW will celebrate Senior Day in the regular-season finale at the Smith Center on Sunday, March 1, against George Mason.
For the second year in a row, the Atlantic 10 Championship will be played at the Richmond Coliseum March 4-8. The semifinal round on Saturday, March 7, will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network, while the championship game will air live on ESPNU at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 8.
GW finished the 2013-14 season with a 23-11 overall record and 11-5 mark in the A-10, tying for second in the league standings and reaching the conference semifinals. In their most successful season in six years, the Colonials earned a bid to the WNIT and advanced to the third round, picking up the program's first postseason victories since 2008. GW returns nine letterwinners from that squad, including A-10 All-Conference Second Team selection Jonquel Jones and Rookie of the Year Caira Washington, while welcoming five freshmen.
For more information about purchasing tickets for the 2014-15 GW women's basketball season, please visit GWsports.com/tickets or call the GW Athletics Ticket Office at 202-994-7325.
12 Opponents in Postseason Play in 2014
Florida Gulf Coast (NCAA)
American (WNIT)
Maryland (NCAA)
N.C. State (NCAA)
Purdue (NCAA) - potential opponent
Fresno State (NCAA)
Saint Mary's (WNIT)
Dayton (NCAA)
Saint Joseph's (NCAA)
Duquesne (WNIT)
St. Bonaventure (WNIT)
VCU (WNIT)
Fordham (NCAA)
12 Opponents in NCAA RPI Top 100 in 2014
Purdue (9) - potential opponent
Dayton (16)
N.C. State (18)
Maryland (20)
Saint Joseph's (22)
Fordham (37)
Saint Mary's (48)
Florida Gulf Coast (54)
St. Bonaventure (62)
American (71)
Duquesne (79)
Fresno State (97)
VCU (100)
